James Stavridis: Hungary’s shift unlocks new opportunities for NATO and Ukraine
The ousting this month of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in a landslide electoral defeat has generated a flood of commentary. Much of it has been about the implications for far-right populism in Europe. Others have focused on the potential impact to U.S. politics, given the close ties of President...
Editorial: Smile, you’re on candid camera. Whether you like it or not
Recalling the “Candid Camera” of yore, we can still remember the reactions from folks who had no idea they were being filmed. Allen Funt’s prescient reality TV show may be long gone from the airwaves, but in its place is a wave of always-on technology that can make anyone a...
Letter to the editor: Chaos for visitors to the Allegheny County Jail
What started out as an effort to help those released from the Allegheny County Jail once a week is now a circus environment three times per week. It was meant for those released to grab a snack or water, charge their phones, make a phone call or grab a cigarette,...
James Alwine and Elizabeth Jacobs: Let’s get ready for the next pandemic
Nobody wants to think about it, but another pandemic is inevitable. We don’t know when, but it is coming, and could well kill millions when it arrives. Pandemics are existential threats to society and our way of life. In the past 108 years, novel viruses with pandemic potential have arisen...
Salewa Ogunmefun: SAVE Act is a solution in search of a problem
As the midterm elections in November draw closer, renewed attempts to undermine our democracy are on the rise. Instead of creating confusion and introducing prohibitions that make voting more difficult, we should be considering ways to make voting more accessible for all eligible voters. Recently, Sen. Dave McCormick called for...
Letter to the editor: Pardoning shooters
Once again, politically motivated terrorism has been waged against peacefully assembled politicians in Washington, D.C. (“DC gala shooting suspect aired grievances against Trump in writings to family,” April 25, TribLive). Law enforcement officers were attacked with deadly force and injured as they fought to protect potential victims who dropped to...
Letter to the editor: Closed primaries indefensible
I live in Allegheny County, pay taxes and follow the issues — but when primary Election Day comes, I’m not allowed to vote. Why? Because I’m registered as an independent. Pennsylvania’s closed primary system shuts out unaffiliated voters from taxpayer-funded elections that often decide the outcome. In Allegheny County, many...
Editorial: The civic value of a little night market
The lack of foot traffic in downtown areas is something many Pennsylvania communities are facing. It’s hard to attract visitors to a place where storefronts are dark and the conversation revolves around how to bring them back to life. That’s what makes something like the Greensburg Night Market worth noting...
Letter to the editor: Thoughts on the draft
I was shocked to hear last month that the draft was coming to Pittsburgh. I wondered why the government chose our city to reinstate conscription and prepare our young men for yet another war that only profits the military industrial-complex and its cronies. Then I was told it was a...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: After the NFL Draft dust has settled …
After all the hype surrounding the NFL Draft, any fair review of its impact on Pittsburgh is a tale of two cities. It was an incredible national public relations success, but it is also clear that all that glittered was not gold for the neighborhood businesses outside the tightly controlled...
Joe Palaggi: War, morality and the questions we keep confusing
When Pope Leo XIV speaks about war, his message is clear: Violence degrades human dignity, and peace must remain the goal even when it feels out of reach. When Donald Trump speaks about conflict, his clarity takes a different form: Threats must be confronted, adversaries deterred, and, at times, force...
Bruce Ledewitz: Violating the conscience of the taxpayer
Recently, a Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court decision struck down Pennsylvania’s statutory ban on Medicaid benefits for abortions. Around the same time, the U.S. Supreme Court granted review of Colorado’s denial of public subsidies to two Catholic preschools. Both actions threaten the conscience of the taxpayer. There is a healthy tradition in...
Letter to the editor: Drop boxes strengthen confidence in elections
Allowing drop boxes around Westmoreland County is not merely a matter of removing physical barriers. It requires holistic strategies: democratizing the election process, simplifying barriers of the disabled, working and the elderly, fostering public engagement and increasing voter turnout on both sides and ensuring accountability and public trust. By implementing...
Editorial: If Zappala would just say it, why seal it?
Prosecutors often attempt to keep portions of an investigation under wraps. It is a routine part of the job and, at times, a necessary one. That was the argument the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office made in court this week, pushing back against suggestions a search warrant should be unsealed....
Letter to the editor: Have those who advocate for voter ID ever voted?
I’m confused. There is a demand for voters to be compelled to show ID to vote at the polls to prevent the supposed multitude of people voting illegally. Have those who advocate this ever voted? For an illegal or unregistered person to vote, they will have to approach a poll...
S.E. Cupp: Trump’s petty pursuit of his ‘enemies’
When the history books write about Donald Trump, they’ll have a lot to say — little of it positive, I’d be willing to wager. His presidencies have been marked by rank incompetence; unprecedented greed and self-dealing; naked corruption; ethical, legal and moral breaches; and, as we repeatedly see, a rise...
Letter to the editor: A-Team helps those in mental health crisis
If you were having a mental health crisis, would you want someone with a gun and taser telling you to calm down? That’s often the reality any time someone calls 9-1-1 in response to a behavioral or mental health emergency. To keep our community safe, we need to be sure...
Rick Siger: Draft was just the beginning for Downtown Pittsburgh
Two years ago, a broad coalition of public and private sector leaders from across Pittsburgh came together with Gov. Josh
Shapiro to announce a
10-year, $600 million strategy to revitalize Downtown Pittsburgh, which had been struggling in recent years with a lack of affordable housing, empty office buildings and public...
Cal Thomas: Do we know our enemy?
President Trump canceled a delegation of U.S. negotiators about to head to Islamabad for continued negotiations with Iran because it appeared no one from the Iranian regime planned to show up. It’s past time to consider whether the American side truly knows the goals of the Iranian side. Such knowledge...
Letter to the editor: The U.S. needs a regime change too
Iran needs a regime change? Maybe the United States of America needs a regime change. President Trump needs to be impeached. Do we want more fools like Trump? Do we think the draft is coming back? Is World War III a possibility? Trump acts like a 2-year-old. President Biden has...
Letter to the editor: People’s medical needs ignored during draft?
Talk about out of bounds! Although I’m not a sports fan, I find it infuriating that the city of Pittsburgh has bent over backwards for everyone other than the medical community. Yes, this NFL Draft was an overwhelming economical boost and gained the city and businesses recognition, but folks with...
Lori Falce: A king’s lessons about democracy
King Charles III did not arrive in Washington this week with a fully armed battalion to remind Americans of his love. He did, however, show up with some cheeky side-eye and what passes for clever quips from a 77-year-old British grandpa. There is often chatter about the “special relationship” between...
Laurels & lances: Plans & pitfalls
Laurel: To planning ahead. Pittsburgh knew more than a year out that the 2026 NFL Draft would happen in the Steel City. It was an event expected to deluge the city with out-of-towners for three days — more if you consider the crews of people coming ahead to set things...
Letter to the editor: Agreements vs. contracts for sheriff’s department
As Westmoreland County sheriff, I signed an agreement to assist another law enforcement agency if they needed help with crowd control. There is no obligation on my part to assist in immigration enforcement. Had law enforcement assisted in Minneapolis crowd control, two individuals may still be alive. I do agree...
Jonah Goldberg: Whenever political violence erupts, Washington starts playing the blame game
A heavily armed California man was caught trying to storm the White House correspondents’ dinner Saturday with the apparent intent to kill the president. It didn’t take long for Washington to start arguing. Democrats denounce violent rhetoric from the right, but the alleged assailant seemed to be inspired by his...
